The Diplomas

Diplomas are new qualifications that have been offered by schools and colleges since September 2008. The full range of 17 diplomas will be available to all students by 2013.

The new Diploma qualification offers 14 to 19 year olds practical, hands-on experience as well as classroom learning. It's designed to help young people develop the knowledge and skills employers and universities want.

They are offered at three levels:

  • Level 1 - Foundation Diploma (equivalent to 5 GCSEs, grades D-G).
  • Level 2 - Higher Diploma (equivalent to 7 GCSEs, grades A*-C).
  • Level 3 - Advanced Diploma (equivalent to 3.5 A levels).
  • Level 3 - Progression Diploma (equivalent to 2 A levels).

The Diploma is a qualification based around an employment sector. The Diplomas being offered across the county from September 2010 are:

  • Business Administration and Finance;
  • Construction and the Built Environment;
  • Creative and Media Studies;
  • Engineering;
  • Hair and Beauty;
  • Hospitality and Catering;
  • Information and Communications Technology;
  • Land-based and Environmental Studies;
  • Manufacturing and Product Design;
  • Retail Business; and
  • Society, Health and Development.

For more information about which diplomas are being offered:

A Diploma is taught in more than one setting so you may do some of your work in school, or at college or with a training provider or employer or a combination of all three.

The Diplomas will offer you a mix of theoretical and practical learning, including functional skills in English, mathematics and ICT and personal learning and thinking skills, such as team working and working independently on a project.

They will help you gain qualifications you need for work, college and university.

Further Information

If you need any extra info about AS or A levels, check out the following page on the Direct.gov.uk website:

www.direct.gov.uk/diplomas
Last Updated on Thursday, 15 September 2011 15:25